Puzzle



May 13, 1941- STEINHARDT 2,241,490

PUZZLE Filed March 50. 19:59

20 f ,z H352, '22a 4 20 ,4171315 Inv/Ne STE/NHA RDT Snv'entor' Gttcarneg` Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUZZLE l Irving Steinhardt, New York, N. Y.

Application March 30, 1939, Serial No. 264,882

8 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement devices such as puzzles, and more particularly to puzzles of the take-apart and put-together type.

One object of this invention is to provide a puzzle of the class described which is composed of a relatively small number of puzzle pieces but which, nevertheless, is suiiiciently diflicult to solve to sustain -interest therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a puzzle of the type referred to which comprises puzzle pieces `of simple geometrical conguration and which, when put together, form a pleasing geometrical design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a puzzle which can be designed to provide a varied degree of diculty in solving the same, without changing the number of puzzle pieces or the geometrical configuration thereof.

The above objects of the invention and other objects which might hereinafter appear will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, which, however is to be considered only as illustrative of the invention and not in limitation thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the puzzle pieces at one side thereof in put-together relation;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the other side of the puzzle pieces;

Fig. 3 is an end view in elevation of one of the puzzle pieces;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the puzzle embodying the present invention comprises, as here shown, three elements or puzzle pieces l, 2, and 3 respectively which, when the puzzle is put together, Vas illustrated in Figs. 1

and 2, are in intersecting and interfitting or mutually overlapping relation in the same plane. Each of the said elements is preferably, but not necessarily, in the form of a ring-shaped member and may be made of any suitable material such as, for example, wood, metal, Bakelite or other synthetic resins, Celluloid, cardboard, paper pulp,A

etc. These ring-shaped members `are preferably of the same size and each is defined by an annular rim 4 of suitable width and thickness, said rims of the several members being preferably of the same width. The rim 4 of each of said members is provided with a plurality of grooves extending completely `across the rim from the internal periphery to the external periphery thereof, thereby forming circumferentially extending portions of reduced thickness so that when the puzzle pieces are properly assembled, predetermined grooved portions of the three members intert in such manner that the three annular members are held by each other against relative displacement in their own planes, but are readily separable from each other by relative movement thereof in a direction transverse to said planes Also the grooves are preferably of such depth that .when the three annular members are put together properly in the solution of the puzzle, they are flush with each other at both sides of the assembly. These grooves and other grooves with which each of said annular members is provided will now be described in further detail.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the rim 4 of annular member I is provided with circiunferentially spaced grooves 5, 6, l, and 8, in which are received correspondingly grooved portions of annular members 2 and 3, grooved portions 9 and IB of member 2 being interitted with grooved portions 5 and 1 of member I, and grooved portions II and I2 of member 3 being intertted with grooved portions 6 and 8 of member I. Annular member 2 is provided with grooves I3 and I4 in which are received the grooved portions I 5 and I 6 respectively of annular member 3. Each of said grooves has spaced opposed arcuate edge walls indicated by way of illustration at 5a and 5b in reference to the groove 5 of annular member I, it being understood that al1 of the grooves have similar opposed arcuate walls and that the latter correspond in curvature to `that of the inner and outer peripheral edges of the rim of the annular member. Thus, each groove has a width substantially equal to the width of the rim 4, being but slightly wider than said rim so that the grooved portion of one rim fits snugly within the companion groove of the companion intertting rim. In other words the opposed edge walls of the grooves have arcs of curvature the radii of which equal to the inner and outer radii, respectively, of the rim 4, and the centers of curvature of said arcs are all located at the outer periphery of the rim. This applies to all of the grooves including those to be hereinafter described. The depth of each groove is preferably such that when the puzzle pieces are put together they are ilush with each other at both sides of the assembly. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the intertting relation of companion grooved portions of two members. `All `of the other companion grooved portions similarly interfit.

In accordance with the present invention the arcuate grooves E, 8, I3, and I4 in the ring members and the corresponding grooved portions Il, I2, I5, and I E are located in the several annular members in such manner as to add to the difliculty of putting the parts together in solving the puzzle. This is accomplished by locating the center of curvature of the arcuate edges of said grooves at a point A on the outer periphery of ring member I displaced circumferentially from the point of intersection B of the peripheral edges of annular members I and 2, whereby the cord C of the subtended arc corresponding to the inner arcuate edge of rim 4 of member 3 between grooved portions I5 and I6 is less than the cord D of the subtended arc on the inner arcuate edge of the rim of member 2 between the grooved portions 9 and I0 thereof. Cord E of the subtended arc of the inner edge of the rim between the grooved portions'll and I2 of member 3 is equal to'cord D, so that cord C is, of course, smaller than cord E.

Further to prevent a too ready solution of the puzzle, each of the puzzle pieces is provided with additional grooved portions in one or both sides thereof providing false clues to the solution of the puzzle. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, member 2 `is provided with grooves I'I and I8 having op posed arcuate edges I'Ia, IIb and I8a, I8b, respectively, of which the center of curvature is located at Apoint F on the edge of rim 4 of member 2.

I9a, I9b and 20a, 26brespectively, having their center of curvature located at point G on the outer periphery of member 3. Additional grooves 2| and 22 are provided in member 3 and these grooves have kopposed arcuate edges 2 la, 2 Ib and 22a, 22h, respectively, the -center of curvature of which is located at the point H on the outer periphery of member 3, Member I is provided with grooved portions 23 :and 24 on the side of said member opposite that provided with grooves ,5, 6, 1, and 3. The arcuate edges 23a, 23h and 24a, 24h have their center of curvature located at the point I on the outer periphery of member fl. Member IV is also provided, in said last mentioned side thereof, with lgrooves 25 and 26, having arcuate edges 25a, 25b'and 26a and 26o having their center of curvature located at the point J on Vthe outer periphery of member I. The rim 4 of member 2 is also provided with additional grooves inthe side thereof opposite the side illustrated in Fig. 1, these additional grooves being indicated at 2l and 28 in Fig. 2. The arcuate edge walls 2'Ia,`2'lb `and 28a, 28h, respectively, of grooves 21 and 28 respectively, have their center of curvature located at the point K on the outer periphery of member 2.

lIt will be understood that the grooves in the several Vpuzzle pieces I, 2, and 3 are so located anddesigned, for example, as hereinabove described, that said puzzle pieces can be assembled in mutual .intertting or put-together relation,

A that is with one of the puzzle pieces intersecting 4both ofthe other-puzzle pieces only in one relative position of the three puzzle pieces. Further itwill be understood, however, that any two of the three puzzle Vpieces can be interiitted in several relative positions of said puzzle pieces. By reas-on of thisrieature, the worlserofv the puzzle, itV heis not careful, apt to ymalte one or more Member 3 is provided with grooved portions I9 and 20 having opposed arcuate edges false starts towards the solution of the puzzle. Thus, for example, puzzle piece 2 can be intertted with puzzle piece I when the grooved portions 9 and IU of puzzle piece 2 are interiitted with the grooved por-tions 6 and 8 of puzzle piece I,y but when these two puzzle pieces are thus interiitted, it is impossible to assemble puzzle piece 3 in interfitting and intersecting relation with said two puzzle pieces. Similarly, puzzle piece 3 can be intertted with puzzle piece I in grooves 5 and I of the latter, but when these two puzzle pieces are thus interfitted, it is impossible to assemble puzzle piece 2 in proper intertting relation with both puzzle Pieces I and 3. It is also possible to intert puzzle piece 3 with puzzle piece 2, for example, in grooves 9 and I0 of said last mentioned puzzle piece, but when these puz- Azle pieces are interiitted in this manner, it is impossible to intert puzzle piece VI in proper relation to both of puzzle pieces 2 and 3.

Thus, it is seen that the puzzle herein shown and described is well adapted to accomplish the several objects of the invention. It will be understood, however, that certain changes in the construction and arrangement and form of the parts may be made witho-ut departing from the underlying principle of the invention. Thus, for example, the puzzle pieces may be in the form of discs instead of open rings as illustrated, in which case, the arcuate grooves will extend continuously from a point vat the outer periphery across the face of the disc to Va correspondingly circumferentially spaced point on the outer periphery of the disc. Other changes, modifications, and adaptations will occur to others in view ofthe present disclosure. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited precisely to the form oi the invention as herein shown or described except as may be required by the scope of the appended claims. Y

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A puzzle .of the put-together type comprising a plurality of flat puzzle pieces each `of which is a ring shaped member having a radially extending peripheral the rims of said m-embers having interfitting portions in releas-able engagernent with each other, said pieces in the put-together positions thereof being disposed in mutually overlapping relation in the same plane. Y2. A puzzle of the put-together type comprising a plurality of fiat puzzle pieces each of which is a ring shaped member having a radially extending peripheral rim, the rims of said members having interiit-ting por-tions in releasable engagement with each other, said pieces in the put-together positions thereof being disposed in mutually overlapping relation in the same plane,

Vsaid interiitting portions comprising grooved opposed artually overlapping relation in the same plane,

said vinteriitting portions comprising grooved Vparts each of which is defined by yopposed arcuate walls the radii of curvature of which are substantially'equal to the Yradii of the inner and outer peripheries of the rim in which said grooved partsfare located. Y

4. A puzzle of the put-together type comprising a plurali-ty of puzzle pieces each of which is a ring-shaped member having a peripheral rim of radial extent, the rim of each of said members having spaced grooves extending transversely thereof, each of said grooves having opposed arcuate edges defined by the arcs of radii which are substantially equal to the radii of the inner and outer` arcs, respectively, of the rim in which said grooves are located, said puzzle pieces interttnig with each other in intersecting relation of the ring-shaped members when certain of the grooved portions `of one of said members interiit with certain grooved portions of another of said members, there being at least three of said members disposed in mutually overlapping relation in the put-together position of said pieces.

5. A puzzle of the put-together type comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces each of which is a ring-shaped member having a peripheral rim of radial extent, the rim of each of said members having spaced lgrooves extending transversely thereof, each of said grooves having opposed arcuate edges deiined by the arcs of radii which are substantially equal to the radii of the inner and outer aros, respectively, of the rim in which said grooves are located, said puzzle pieces intertting with ea-ch other in intersecting relation of the ring-shaped members when certain of the grooved portions of one of said members intert with certain grooved portions of another of said members, there being at least three of said members disposed in mutually overlapping relation in the put-together position of said pieces, the space between certain companion intertting grooved portions of .two of said members being different than the space between certain other companion intertting grooved portions of said members.

6. A puzzle of the put-together type comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces each of which is a ring shaped member having a radially extending peripheral rim, the rims of said members' having intertting portions in releasable engagement with each other, there being at l-east three of said ring shaped members which in the puttogether position thereof are disposed in mutually overlapping relation.

7. A puzzle of the put-together type comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces each of which is a ring shaped member having a radially extending peripheral rim, the rims of said members having interfitting portions in releasable engagement with each other, there being at least three of said ring shaped members which in the puttogether position thereof are disposed in mutually overlapping relation, at least one of said ringshaped members having additional grooved portions which are not engaged by the other ringshaped members in the put-together relation thereof, said additional grooved portions provided false clues to the solution of the puzzle, the engagement of one of said ring-shaped mem-bers in said additional grooves preventing the proper mutual interfit-ting o-f the three ring-shaped members.

8. A puzzle of the put-together type comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces each of which is aring shaped member having a radially extending peripheral rim, the rims of said members having intertting portions in releasable engagement with each other, there being at least three of said ring shaped members which in the puttogether position thereof are disposed in mutually overlapping relation, the space between certain companion intertting grooved portions of two of said members being different than the space between certain other companion intertting grooved portions of said members.

IRVING STEIN HARDT. 

